Mindful Meditation May Be Effective in Alleviating Chronic Pain

Opioid pain medications can cause serious side effects or risks of addiction, overdose, and death. Thus, the FDA recommends that these drugs must carry a warning label about these grave dangers. The agency also encourages doctors to explore alternative ways to alleviate pain, like mindful meditation. s

In a study published in the National Institutes of Health, it’s shown that mindful meditation if paired with cognitive behavioral therapy, could work better. The positive results could last longer than standard treatment. 

In the said study, the lead author said the mind plays a vital role in the management of chronic pain. Participants were asked to focus on changing how they think about their pain. They were also required to participate in specific activities that people could do to manage their condition. 

How meditation and yoga can help? 

Meditation and Yoga can assist individuals in changing their awareness of their pain and becoming more accepting about the pain. These mindfulness activities will help people in focusing their energies on finding other methods to accept their pain and manage it constructively. 

However, even though individuals can practice meditation and yoga, they must still follow the usual care as recommended by their doctors, like medications, massage therapy, and exercise. 

Participants who used mindfulness and CBD experienced to have greater improvement in their function. 

With mindful meditation, you’re teaching your mind to be curious about the pain’s intensity and let go of the thoughts that the pain is awful. It also teaches you to avoid having goals and expectations. It’s quite beneficial because if you expect that a particular medication can ease your pain, and it doesn’t, your mind will go into a solution mode resulting in you thinking thoughts that medications don’t ever work at all. 

What the mindful meditation does is that it allows you to engage with the pain as it is. Instead of fulfilling a particular goal, you’re learning to relate to the pain and think about it differently. 

Experts call this strategy as a learning mindset, instead of having an achievement-oriented mindset. Mindfulness lets you think that nothing requires fixing. In the mindfulness study, it showed that just being aware of that pain may be considered as healing, rather than just thinking about it. 

Mindful meditation allows you to have an accurate perception of pain. At first, you may think that your pain is constant throughout the day. Then, when you examine your pain, you’ll realize that it hits you several times a day. By realizing it, you’re lifting your frustration and anxiety. 

The benefits of mindful meditation could last a full year. And this reality isn't common among treatments for this type of pain. 

Scientific trials have shown that mindfulness meditation is extremely beneficial in relieving anxiety, depression, and irritability, in addition to alleviating chronic pain and chronic back pain. 

Apart from relieving pain, mindful meditation is also proven to be beneficial for the improvement of memory. It has also shown to enhance physical stamina. In other words, those who regularly meditate are more contented with their lives than those who don’t practice it.

Vitamin D Didn't Relieve Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Previous studies have shown that intake of vitamin D supplement may reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia, knee osteoarthritis, and other chronic conditions. However, in a recent study published in JAMA, the said vitamin didn't relieve pain. It didn't even show that it could stop cartilage loss in those patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. 

Osteoarthritis, per se, is a progressive disease. Currently, there’s no treatment available that can stop cartilage loss. Most patients would opt for knee replacements. This joint disorder is a very common disease, and it affects more than 250 million people in the world. 

In a study conducted in Australia and Tasmania, researchers gathered more than 400 people to participate in the controlled research. These individuals have knee OA and with low levels of vitamin D. 

The participants were divided into two groups. The first group received vitamin D supplement, and the other group got a placebo. Over the course of the study, which lasted two years, the supplements showed to increase the vitamin D blood levels who took it but they didn't reduce knee pain.

The MRI results of the participants didn't show significant differences in their cartilage. Thus, when the researchers compared vitamin D supplement with that of placebo, they didn't see significant differences in the patients’ knee pain score. The findings could not support the intake of vitamin D supplements for the purpose of preventing tibia cartilage loss while improving WOMAC knee pain for patients with knee osteoarthritis. 

What is the role of vitamin D in the body? 

This type of vitamin is useful in controlling calcium and phosphate levels in the body. It’s also vital in the formation of stronger bones and teeth. Furthermore, it modulates cell growth while it enhances neuromuscular function and strengthens the immune system. It also reduces inflammation. 

A scarcity of this vitamin will cause body pain, especially in the pelvic, rib cage, and lumbar regions. 

While vitamin D didn’t prove to be effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain, you should still continue taking vitamin D, if recommended by your doctor. Bear in mind that it’s a vital nutrient that your body needs. 

It’s also necessary that you engage in a regular exercise to strengthen your muscles. It is especially beneficial if you’re overweight. The extra weight the you have may go through your knee. One of the best exercises that you can perform is aquatic exercise. 

With proper exercise, you can control your weight. It will prevent putting a tremendous amount of pressure, strain and stress on your hips and knees. When you shed pounds, it will be easier for you to achieve success while undergoing physical therapy. For you to lose weight, you should eat a balanced diet and perform as much exercise as you can. 

Instead of reaching to a pain reliever, try thermotherapy. It’s an effective osteoarthritis treatment that utilizes heat or cold. With heat, it increases circulation in the joint while it relaxes muscles. Cold, on the other hand, can numb the pain as it cools down your nerve impulses, thereby, decreasing swelling. 

There are other natural ways to relieve osteoarthritis pain. Talk to your doctor about them. 

How to Cure Sore Eyes - The Natural Ways

There are many ways on how to cure sore eyes. But before you find one, make sure that you’ve understood this medical condition. 

Sore eye, per se, is a broad term that describes a wide range of possible sensations. In this condition, your eyes will feel tired or heavy as if there’s a foreign object in them. 

One of the most common causes of it is conjunctivitis. But it can also be caused by too much exposure to the sun, allergies, eye fatigue, and wearing of contact lenses. 

Diagnosing Before Finding Ways on How to Cure Sore Eyes

To make sure that your condition is indeed a sore eye, you have to see your eye care provider. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and inquire about your lifestyle, eye problems, and diet. 

An eye examination may be conducted to investigate your eyes’ internal and external structures. It will also help in rolling out possible causes. 

Natural Cures for Sore Eyes 

One of the effective cures for sore eyes is cold compress. It can help you get an instant relief. In this method, you will need to soak a clean cloth in ice cold water. Then, place it over your affected eye. Do it as often as you can. 

• Another cold compress method that you can try is chamomile tea bag. 
• Put it in the fridge for half an hour. 
• Then, place the chilled tea bag over the affected eye. 
• Allow it to sit there for 20 minutes. For fast recovery, do it up to four times a day. 

Green tea, too, is an effective way to cure sore eyes. It can relieve itchy eyes while it soothes your eyes through its anti-inflammatory properties. To use it as a cure for sore eyes:

• Boil green tea bags in a cup of distilled water. 
• Allow them to cool first. 
• Then, flush your eyes with this tea until the symptoms of this eye condition subside. 

How about cucumber? 

This, too, can be one of the best ways on how to cure sore eyes. Cucumber contains anti-irritation properties that can effectively reduce inflammation, swelling, and irritation associated with this eye condition. 

Before you place slices of cucumber over the affected eye, refrigerate it first. Wait for at least half an hour. Then, take out the cucumber and place it over your eyes. Allow it to stay there for 10 minutes. 

Other natural cures for sore eyes

Cold milk is also a good alternative. Use a cotton ball and soak it in a glass of cold milk. Rub it around the eyes. You may also use it as a compress to get an instant cooling effect. 

If you can get your hands on pure rosewater, then that’d be better as it can also be used as an effective home remedy for your itchy, reddish eyes. It’s simply cooling and it can help in clearing your eyes. You may also use it as an eye drop for an instant natural relief. 

Although these natural cures for sore eyes are effective, every case is different. Talk to your doctor about the best natural treatment for your condition.

Image Source: Sore Eyes